Oh pity the plight of the poor middle seat traveler. Sandwiched between two strangers for hours at a time, they are completely at the mercy of those around them. They can’t look out the window without causing one seatmate to think they’re being stared at. And they can’t get up and use the bathroom without making the other seatmate get up and let them out. It’s a tough lot to draw, but at least, in the middle, there’s the small consolation that you get to use both armrests, right?

Helping advance, or at the very least inspire, the travel world to do more around the world when it comes to social responsibility, Conde Nast Traveler held their second annual World Saver’s conference in New York City. Bringing together an impressive group of speakers including Jeff Sachs, Ashley Judd (pictured above) and Queen Rania of Jordan as well as several travel executives from around the globe the conference was focused around what advances various hoteliers and destinations were making toward sustainability as well as what more could be done and in fact MUST be done to preserve the places we all love so much, lest we not literally love them to death. In the next ten years travel expectations are expected to double. This year alone there will be a billion people traveling.

As Jeff Sachs said, that means we could have a billion global ambassadors around the world. This statement touched me deeply as it so closely resonates what I’ve been a part of creating at Travelocity: our change ambassador grants program. I firmly believe that travel is the bridge between cultures and can foster understanding and tolerance.

In my September 12 blog entry, I extolled the virtues of Canada’s Banff National Park, a world-renowned mecca for mountain lovers, and my ultimate road trip destination. “Banff or Bust!” This was my party’s half-mocking, half-deadly serious mantra as we whizzed past Portland, Oregon and gave Vancouver the once-over in a record-breaking two and a half hours. We zoomed toward the Canadian Rockies as if they were our salvation.

To be frank, in several ways, they were. The park’s charmingly petite Lake Louise has crystal-clear turquoise waters--yes, they’re actually turquoise--that make you wonder if somebody somehow strapped Technicolor goggles on your peepers when you weren’t looking. Cradling the Banff valley are jutting peaks and ice-blue glaciers. Find an out-of-the-way trailhead, hike an hour or two, and you’ll end up feeling like you’re the only person on the planet.

Until recently, I owned a cell phone that made and received calls and could be coaxed into taking the occasional grainy picture. When I answered it in front of friends, they would often marvel at its "Zack Morris" qualities. Then I got an iPhone 3G.

This week I'm visiting New York City, my old stomping grounds before I moved to San Francisco. I've been gone two and a half years, which is just long enough for me to completely forget everything. Compounding my acute amnesia is the fact that I'm crashing with various friends in neighborhoods I'm not familiar with. And so it was yesterday that I found myself utterly lost and completely unable to find Houston Street. (This is hilarious to New Yorkers. It's a major thoroughfare and was only a few blocks north of me at the time.)

Having just returned from the ever-balmy Baltic, I was understandably pleased by the brilliance of a New York fall day on Sunday. The weather throughout my twelve days overseas was nothing if not grey (see photo of the Peterhof, above). Were I a painter, I would have relished the opportunity to try to transfer through a brush, the many and varied shades of grey, like Monet’s ecstatic revelations on fog. If I had traveled to Russia and the weather had been sparkling sunshine, I probably would have been disappointed. Russia is supposed to be cold. My preconceived notions—read “stereotypes”—of Russia are deep-rooted. Russia is cold, its people rude, its culture angry and aggressive. I loved the way my bias was busted though while traveling across Estonia and over the border at Narva. On a coach bus that probably saw the fall of the Wall and the raising of the Iron Curtain, with a driver and passengers who only spoke Russian, I was able to get to the border, through border control, into St. Petersburg, and to my hotel, without any real difficult or so much as a sidelong glance at my US passport. At every bus stop along the way, the old woman in the next seat would say something to me and smile sweetly, knowing full well that I did not speak Russian.

My wallet is bulging, but, sorry to say, it’s not with cash. SkyMiles, OnePass, AAdvantage, TrueBlue, Mileage Plus: these are the cards in my wallet.

Lately I’ve been catching up on long-overdue visits to friends in several different US cities, so I’ve been looking for ways to maximize the frequent-flier miles I’ve accumulated in all these accounts across multiple airline alliances. (I’m not the only one; the Boston Globe is reporting that miles redemption is on the rise in the face of rising airfares.) Along the way, I’ve discovered some tricks and deals that surprised me and are worth sharing. Here are my favorite secrets to funding a flight with frequent-flier miles.

When forecasters initially mapped out the path of Hurricane Ike, it looked like the Florida Keys were going to take a direct hit. Authorities ordered tourists and then residents to evacuate and the dozens of bridges leading back to Miami filled with cars stuffed to the gills with people, pets, and their prize possessions. Then, a few days later, the weather forecasters scratched their heads, looked at the maps, and declared Ike was on a path to Texas, and would miss The Keys altogether. Evacuation lifted--you can come back now!

But very few people did come back—to the tune of millions of dollars in lost tourist revenue, according to an article in USA Today. This was the backdrop to which I arrived in The Keys last week: shuttered condo complexes, plentiful “closed” signs, abundant parking, zero traffic, empty swimming pools, and spectacular weather.

Susie Fujikawa, Travelocity’s market manager for Oahu, was born and raised there. Her love for Hawaii stems from the hospitality and affection from the people. “Hawaiians know how to welcome everyone and make you feel like you’re at home and I love it,” says Susie.

Right now, travelers are watching their vacation spending. What are some things travelers can do to stretch their dollar?

There’s a lot of value with certain hotels in Oahu. Right now there are two for the price of one luau ticket vouchers with your hotel stay, kids-eat-free specials, and complementary breakfast-on-the-beach perks.

In Waikiki, there are beach centers and parks where you can take your family on a self-guided walking tour--just grab a map and walk along the trails that are very easy to follow.

You can ride a car up to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. It’s not just pineapples there, but also garden tours that explore native plants like the beautiful lei flowers, tropical fruits, chocolate, and coffee plants ($4 adults/$3.25 children).

Over at the semicircular Hanauma Bay are amazing snorkeling lessons, diving, and scuba tours. It’s just so special because you’re learning on the beach and have the opportunity to see sea turtles and saltwater fish swim close by (snorkeling: $59/person; $5/entry fee). You can also rent snorkeling gear for a good rate and what’s even better is the transportation. The tour will send out transportation to pick you up from your hotel and bring you back, but you have to call to make arrangements.

Also, while in Waikiki, you can take the kids to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It’s an amazing venue that captures and showcases the different ethnic groups of Hawaii. There are canoe rides along the river, walking tours where you can get close and explore different Polynesian villages, including Tongan and Fiji villages, and, at the end of the tour, you’re treated to a luau and fantastic show.

Whether it’s the high cost of gas, the troubled economy, or new fees piling up everywhere you turn – traveling sure feels expensive these days. While it is true airfares are up, travelers can often offset any additional cost on their hotel stays by taking advantage of the bargains and discounted room rates that come with fall. Want to take it one step further? There are lots of freebies out there – that’s right, free – that make that well-deserved vacation within reach. From free airfare to free room upgrades, you can’t afford to miss out on these autumn offers.

Free Airfare
Fall is an ideal time to travel for couples, especially to the Caribbean – still-warm weather, lower prices and fewer families to contend with. All-inclusive Sandals Resorts “Love is in the Air” deal is good for bookings made by October 23, 2008 and credits guests up to $1,100 to offset the cost of air travel with a minimum three-night stay. With resorts in Antigua, St. Lucia, Jamaica and the Bahamas, there are plenty of places to tuck your toes in the sand with the one you love – for a lot less.

Free Cruise Upgrades
Cruises are an excellent way to stick to a budget – after all, they include your accommodations, meals, transportation between ports and nightly onboard entertainment for one price (just beware of the pricey poolside cocktails). The lowest prices are found when you book an inside cabin, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a room with a view? When you book a cruise on NCL before October 12, future sailings are eligible for free stateroom upgrades. Other cruise lines offer onboard ship credit, making it possible for you to sip a few of those poolside cocktails after all.

photo courtesy of IgoUgo member LorenGul.

At the end of last year, I took a trip to Detroit. The rather luxurious MGM Grand has just opened its doors to the public and I holed up in a super-fancy suite (with two bathrooms!) for a few days. (Also, if you can believe it: one of those bathrooms had a television in the mirror. Yep, told you it was fancy.)

A year later and a second super-duper posh hotel is about to open its doors in Detroit: the Westin Book Cadillac has been the subject of much speculation for months and months and months---when I was there last November, people couldn't seem to stop talking about it---and now it's finally set to open on October 1.

Detroit might not be the first place you'd think of taking a vacation to (though personally, I'd beg to differ: in my opinion the city's worth a trip for Eastern Market and the potato pancakes at Polonia alone), but the emergence of the high-end MGM Grand and the Westin Book Cadillac seems to offer a little hope for the Motor City yet.

Now I just need to find out whether the Book Cadillac has TVs in its bathroom mirrors as well.

(Photo: The very swanky pool at the MGM Grand)

Oh Canada! Yay for your national airline! Air Canada announced today they would remove the second-checked bag fee of $25.

"Although the cost of fuel remains highly volatile and far above historic norms, the recent retreat in oil prices is enabling us to reinstate our previous baggage policy. We are eliminating the second checked bag charge on North American Tango and Tango Plus fares, reflecting our customers' expressed preferences. Further, Air Canada is making its pricing more transparent by removing add-on fuel surcharges for flights within North America and instead adjusting its base fares to cover the total cost of fuel," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Tuesday's Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) "Oil Is Cheaper, But Airline Fees Are Here to Stay," suggested that airlines had long hoped to move to an a la carte pricing system in an effort to increase revenue from passengers and high oil prices gave them the way to do just that.

In stark contrast, United Airlines recently announced the charge to check a second piece of baggage would double to $50 for tickets purchased on or after September 16, 2008.

For a complete list of baggage fees by airline, bookmark this handy chart.

Higher airfares, new fees, pain at the pump – who can afford to travel anymore? You, actually. Sometimes it’s less about where you go than when you go, and autumn is a prime time to get away for a lot less than what you’d pay during the peak summer months. Hotels are looking to fill rooms in the slow months between now and Thanksgiving, so take advantage of the lull and book yourself on a weekend (or longer) getaway to one of these fabulous fall destinations that won’t break the bank.

Beaver Creek, CO
The Rocky Mountains really peak – in both tourists and price – come the first snowfall, so come early and enjoy all the autumn activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, horseback riding, fishing and golf will keep you busy during the day, and top-notch restaurants and luxurious hotels will keep you rejuvenated and ready for the next day’s adventures. Sample savings: the Beaver Creek Lodge, an all-suite boutique property situated in the heart of the town has rates from $169 per night this fall, compared with over $400 per night in the winter months.

Bonus: Use promo code COSUMMER75 before September 19 and get $75 off your four-night vacation.

Today, September 16th, is just another Tuesday for most people, but it is a huge day for me. After more than two years of research, interviews, writing, and editing, my new book Getting Into Guinness is being released by Harper Collins! For that reason, I am back in my hometown, New York City, for the book release itself, and for a book launch party my sister was kind enough to throw for me this past weekend.

I grew up in New York City, and despite having been to most of the “major” cities of the world, from San Francisco to Paris to London to Sydney, I still love New York whole heartedly. I just couldn’t ever live here. But I love to visit, and in the nearly 20 years since I moved out and relocated to the bucolic Vermont countryside, I have become the consummate tourist in my old haunts.

United Airlines announced Monday that it will begin charging passengers $50 to check a second piece of luggage for tickets purchased as of September 16 for travel commencing November 10. The carrier had previously announced a $25 charge for the second checked bag. The decision to double the fee was, according to the Associated Press (via MSNBC.com), in part die to "volatile" fuel prices.

United charges $15 for the first piece of checked luggage.

Delta Airlines also charges $50 for the second piece of checked luggage; the carrier does not charge for the first checked bag. For a complete list of baggage fees by airline, see our Comparison Chart.

Given the latest news on Wall Street of the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch there will be a lot of bankers hitting the streets. And that probably doesn’t make those of use who aren’t bankers feel much better about the economy of late. It would be easy to despair about these times. But then again, what good will that do? It won’t change the outcome or stem the tide of what is to come. So why not escape it all?

I say, it’s time to sail away. That’s right just pick up and get away from it all without a care or worry. Perhaps you’re out of a job and you need time to think or perhaps you just need a rest and a break from all the news of the War in Iraq, the upcoming election, fuel prices and people talk-talk-talking about just what is the situation in America. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to hop on board.

If you read my entry on Friday of last week, you probably know that I’m on the road right now, working my way up through the Pacific Northwest to the Canadian Rockies with my girlfriend and a friend. Today we’re in Seattle, looking forward to shopping on Capitol Hill and watching fellow SF musicians Von Iva rock out at the Tractor Tavern.

But despite today’s tryst with this hip urban hub, our trip is actually 90% nature-focused. Last night, we pitched our tent on the Oregon Coast, then roasted veggie hot dogs and watched the sun set between tree-topped bluffs.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Idler.

When prices at the pump began to soar, train travel started chug-chug-chugging its way to all-time capacity highs--and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. Growing up in the Deep South, train travel was highly impractical, but once I moved to Baltimore and then later to New York City, I began to ride the rails whenever I got the chance.

Now I’m addicted to locomotives and have hopped trains all over Europe, in Alaska, up to Canada, and even down the gorgeous California coast. In a day and age when airlines charge fees for every extra amenity and security lines drag on forever, train travel is one of the most cost-effective, eco-friendly, and relaxing ways to move about the country.

Here are my top tips for those new to train travel.

Right around this time last year, I wrote about a pilgrimage—albeit a short one—to the site of the September 11th attacks. It was my first time to the scene and it was simultaneously horrible, liberating, and moving. To be honest, I’d almost forgotten about what day it was today. I had that brief flash of guilt—and not a little bit of anger—for not having such an anniversary on my mind. I am going on a trip today. I am leaving for the Baltic for two weeks, so clearly I have other things on my mind like remembering to buy new nail clippers—and making sure I don’t pack them in my carry-on. The trip was booked late and I wondered how I got a good deal on a flight that was so perfect. It’s an overnight flight that lands in the middle of the week. I sleep a lot on planes anyway, so I’m assuming I’ll be mostly adjusted by the time I land in Helsinki.

I recently moved apartments, cutting my subway commute by about two-thirds. I should be overjoyed, but I caught myself complaining that I’m no longer speeding through books like I used to when I had stops and stops worth of reading time. The thing is, I’ve been on a travel-book kick for months now, and I can’t stop. I miss Liberia in the morning.

It doesn’t seem to matter who’s doing the traveling—I’ve been hooked on 1930s novels and travelogues by Graham Greene, essays by modern-day master of observation Pico Iyer, and a pair of motorcycle diaries by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Bill Bryson, Karen Blixen, Rick Ridgeway, Adam Gopnik. I’m all over the map. And I already know my next quest: a trip across the US with the upcoming State by State.

If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. Or…shall I say…hike the hike. Since we first launched our children and nature guide to encourage travelers to get outside with their kids, I have been inspired to take advantage of the great outdoors a bit more myself.

I started small, exploring various natural areas of San Francisco. I’ve strolled through The Presidio, an ecological treasure in this bustling city. I’ve walked along the sandy city beaches as the freezing cold waves crashed around my ankles. I’ve even tortured myself in boot camp, taking my mind off my burning buns by soaking up the views of Golden Gate Park as the early morning fog crept through the trees. What an amazing treat to reward my hard work!

This weekend, I decided to step my pursuit for nature up a few notches. My friends and I hiked through Mount Tamalpais State Park. The real motivation: pancakes. I found out about this foodie adventure on Weekend Sherpa, an outdoor enthusiasts guide to Northern California, and have wanted to do it ever since. The adventure starts on one of several trail options and ends at West Point Inn, where they serve a pancake breakfast that Weekend Sherpa describes as “more mom-and-pop than IHOP.”

Just a week after Zoom Airlines abruptly shut down, the Canadian government announced Flight Rights Canada, an effort to better inform passengers of their air travel rights. Here are just a few highlights of the passenger rights policy:

Passengers have the right to take the flight they paid for.
If the plane is overbooked or cancelled, the airline must find the passenger a seat on another flight operated by that airline; buy the passenger a seat on another carrier with whom it has a mutual interline traffic agreement; or refund the unused portion of the passenger's ticket.

Continental Airlines has become the fifth legacy carrier to charge $15 for the first piece of checked luggage. The airline already charges $25 for the second-checked bag. As is the policy for the other carriers, elite members of the airline's frequent-flier program and those traveling in business and first class will not have to pay for their checked baggage.

The move leaves Delta Airlines as the lone legacy carrier not charging for the first-checked bag. However, Delta charges twice what the others do for the second piece of checked luggage -- $50 each way.

Click here to read my top five ways to avoid baggae fees.

Continental has also ended its policy of awarding a minimum of 500 frequent-flier miles, regardless of the actual distance traveled. Now, members of Continental's OnePass program will earn actual miles traveled only.

Click here to read baggage policies by carrier.

I recently conducted an interview for Howdini.com on holiday travel for families. With capacity cuts, higher prices and baggage fees on the rise, holiday travel may be trickier than in years passed. Watch this video for a few tips on making your holiday travel as smooth as possible.

Family Travel: How to Plan for the Holidays

I’m not proud of it, but I’ve spent numerous vacations eating almost nothing but Del Taco bean and cheese burritos. I’ve also driven 14-hour shifts, been lost in freezing temperatures at 4am, and crashed at overpriced motels--only to wake up and find that I was just 10 miles from my destination.

In other words, I’ve been on my fair share of road trips, and I’ve got the scars to show it (emotional scars, I mean--you try living on refried beans for five days in strange places).

I've got a tough decision to make. Flying back from Singapore to San Francisco in late December, I have a choice of two flights. The first has a layover in Tokyo, but only for 45 minutes. The second has a layover in Tokyo as well---but this time it's for 10 hours.

Now do I take Option A because it's easy and quick and I'll get home sooner? Or do I take Option B because wow, would you look at that, it's like a free trip to Tokyo built right into a flight I'm already paying for?

If I decide on the latter, you see, I could leave the airport, head into the center of town, and spend the entire day discovering a city and a country I've only ever seen from...well, from inside the airport, ironically. Sure, such a fleeting visit would mean I'd pretty much only be exploring the tip of the iceberg---we could call my trip Japan 101, perhaps, or Tokyo For Beginners---but at least I'd be exploring.

What do you think? Is it worth it to take these new travel experiences where we can, even if we have to squeeze them into ten-hour windows? Or are we shortchanging ourselves by having to stick to such a strict itinerary? Should we "save" the cities we want to see for when we can actually do them justice, or should we stick to our guns, follow our wanderlust, and take whatever we can get, wherever we can get it?

Ten hours in Tokyo: worth it or not?

Photograph courtesy of Patrick Sharbaugh

Lucky for me and my fear of germs, bad smells and public restrooms, I am blessed with the Hoover Dam of bladders. I can hold it FOREVER! (TMI, I know!) But, this isn’t true for many road warriors. Take my roommate Melissa for instance. The girl has to go every 20 minutes. She even scoped out her Labor Day picnic spot in Golden Gate Park based on what sunny locale was in close proximity to the cleanest restroom. After all, she would need to frequent it in between sips of lemonade.

But, what does a germaphobe traveler with a pint-sized bladder and the need to “go” do in an unfamiliar destination? If squatting in an alley isn’t your thing, MizPee can be your source of relief.

Apparently, United Airlines agrees that they took the fees one step too far. After receiving negative feedback from customers on its decision to charge coach passengers for meals on Europe-bound flights from Washington Dulles, United decided to ditch those plans.

Kudos to United for listening to its customers.

Early-morning light shone upon Oahu's cliffs and waves as I hiked atop Makapu’u with MaryLou Hata Foley of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and Naomi McIntosh of NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Both are native Hawaiians and painted a picture for me of this very same trail in winter, when the sparkling waters below buoy the breaching flanks of great humpback whales as they make their pass through Pacific waters.

The three of us were discussing the notion of responsible tourism, and how a traveler can go beyond just moving through a place taking pictures, but instead treat a place as living and breathing, as something unique, and as something worth protecting. But how to foster an attitude of stewardship in island visitors who just want to relax with a mai tai? As it is right now, tourism is Hawaii's number-one industry, but ironically that tourism is harming the very treasures that people travel to Hawaii for in the first place. In response, a few pioneer hotels and tour companies have taken it upon themselves to implement more responsible practices, often in some highly creative only-in-Hawaii ways.

View from Makapu’u.

For Lucy Mui, Travelocity market manager for New York City, the city is the cultural capital of the world. Lucy loves food, bargain shopping, and traveling—she’s already traveled much of the world and believes there’s no place like home in New York.

Lucy, what do you love about New York City?

The food! We have so many people from almost every cultural background here and the variety of restaurants reflects that. You can eat a plate of Tandoori chicken and walk over to get bubble tea a block over, then jump on a train to the lower east side and possibly have the best ramen noodles ever.